# Describe a sports event you would like to watch: IELTS Speaking sample answers

Speaking Part 2 - Events

Describe a sports event you would like to watch.

You should say:
- what the event is
- where it takes place
- who you would like to watch it with
- and explain why you would like to watch it

Source: Sample answers and examiner notes are written by Testmigo.

## Band 7 sample

The sports event I'd love to watch in person is the Wimbledon tennis championship, especially one of the finals.

Wimbledon takes place every summer in London, at a club in the south-west of the city, and it's the oldest tennis tournament in the world. It's also the only one of the big tournaments that is still played on grass, which makes it quite special. The players have to wear almost completely white clothes, and there are lots of traditions, like eating strawberries and cream while you watch. I've seen it many times on TV, but I've never been there.

I'd like to go with my father, because he's the person who got me into tennis. When I was a child, we used to watch the finals together every year, and he always explained the rules to me and told me stories about famous matches from the past. He's never travelled to Europe, so I think it would be an amazing experience for both of us. I know tickets are very hard to get, but I've read that if you will join a queue on the day, you can get tickets for some courts, so maybe we could try that.

There are a few reasons I want to watch it. First, I'm just very interesting in tennis, and I think watching the best players in the world from a few metres away would be completely different from watching on a screen. I'd like to hear the sound of the ball and feel the atmosphere of the crowd. Second, it would be a way to thank my dad for all those years of watching together. It's definitely on my list of things to do before I'm forty.

**Examiner notes.** This Band 7 answer is well organised and personal, linking the event to a shared family interest. Vocabulary is good ("in person", "got me into tennis", "atmosphere of the crowd"), though phrases like "amazing experience" are quite common and the reasons are listed with "First" and "Second". Grammar is mostly accurate with good use of "used to" and conditionals, but there are typical errors: "if you will join a queue" (rather than "if you join") and the word-form slip "very interesting in tennis" (rather than "very interested in"). Band 8 would add more precise and idiomatic expressions and a more natural, flowing development of ideas.

The Band 8 sample is free with an account on the [topic page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/speaking/topics/describe-a-sports-event-you-would-like-to-watch).

## Common questions

### How long should an IELTS Speaking Part 2 answer be?

You get one minute to prepare and then speak for up to two minutes; the examiner stops you at two. Aim to keep talking for the full time, which is usually 220 to 300 words.

### Can I use these sample answers in my test?

No. Examiners are trained to spot memorised answers, and a learned script is marked down. Use the samples to see what each band does, then answer in your own words.